Where’s Michael Bennet on health care? Anywhere he needs to be

At one point during yesterday’s Colorado Senate debate, Michael Bennet quipped that Ken Buck’s answers to a series of yes-or-no questions regarding health care sounded as if the Republican candidate actually supported big parts of Obamacare.

I chuckled along with most of the crowd. But today, after revisiting the questions in detail — questions that didn’t really touch on many of the most expensive and intrusive parts of the health care bill — the only thing obvious was that Bennet had endorsed a number of Republican positions while Buck was completely in line with the GOP plan.

The first question: Are you in favor of portability — carrying insurance across state lines? (Which actually conflates two issues.)

Both candidates answered yes — as would nearly every Republican on the planet. GOP plans always covered pre-existing conditions (which is terrible idea; but that’s another story.)

Next broad question: Are you in favor of preventative services being covered? (The more precise question would have been: Do you believe Washington should force insurance companies to cover preventative programs — even if they are wasteful?)

Both candidates – just as both parties – answer yes.

Next question: Are you in favor of young adults – up to the age of 26 – being covered by their parents’ policies?

Bennet yes. Buck no.

Again, the more precise question would be: Do you believe government should force private insurance companies to cover “children” until they’re 26.

Next question: Does there need to be tort reform to deal with malpractice insurance.

Both candidates say yes.

So then why did Bennet vote for a bill that, other than a small meaningless pilot program, offered noting in the way of tackling tort reform? The GOP plan includes tort reform

Next question: Is individual mandate in the current bill unconstitutional?

To be fair, Buck seemed confused by the coverage gap query beyond yes or no – not a good moment for him. If Buck could learn anything from Bennet, it’s that having a couple of platitudes in your pocket for such moments never hurts. Just tell the audience that we can close the doughnut hole by breaking our dependency on foreign oil.

Now, once we tally up the numbers, Buck endorses a couple of ideas that are supported by both parties while Bennet twice endorses major planks of the free-market plan that were deliberately excluded by Democrats.

Bennet had a chance to support these ideas when it counted; he didn’t.

Buck is a criminal law attorney and not an insurance wonk, and could not in any event set himself up for the typical MSM attack of “Buck does not want to cover sick children.” One can’t “insure” preexisiting conditions any more than insure cars that are already wrecked without wrecking the insurance market. That is a central hidden motive of Obamacare: wreck private health insurers and then have the gummit ride to the rescue. PS: I’ll vote for Buck anyway. Bennett voted for Obamacare.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UN65MQPJEFPYHDZPTCQYGZ5CKI james

Buck is a criminal law attorney and not an insurance wonk, and could not in any event set himself up for the typical MSM attack of “Buck does not want to cover sick children.” One can’t “insure” preexisiting conditions any more than insure cars that are already wrecked without wrecking the insurance market. That is a central hidden motive of Obamacare: wreck private health insurers and then have the gummit ride to the rescue. PS: I’ll vote for Buck anyway. Bennett voted for Obamacare.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UN65MQPJEFPYHDZPTCQYGZ5CKI james

Buck is a criminal law attorney and not an insurance wonk, and could not in any event set himself up for the typical MSM attack of “Buck does not want to cover sick children.” One can’t “insure” preexisiting conditions any more than insure cars that are already wrecked without wrecking the insurance market. That is a central hidden motive of Obamacare: wreck private health insurers and then have the gummit ride to the rescue. PS: I’ll vote for Buck anyway. Bennett voted for Obamacare.

Bennett is afraid to defend his vote on Obummacare because he knows more than half his potential voters are not happy with it, especially as more of the details come out. As Comrade Pelosi said, “We’ll have to pass the bill so you can see what’s in it.” One way to hide a weak stance is to attack your opponent vehemently in anyway possible (whether factual & true or not) and raise enough of a smoke screen to cover your weak position. I don’t expect Buck to have every answer on Obummacare………nobody else does either! But wait ’til the general public sees their tax bill after January 1, when the employer paid portion of healthcare insurance becomes taxable to them………unless they are among the 13% of the workforce who are unionized……..they got a sweetheart deal at the expense of the rest of us. The Democrabs are hoping most people don’t know that.

TC

Bennett is afraid to defend his vote on Obummacare because he knows more than half his potential voters are not happy with it, especially as more of the details come out. As Comrade Pelosi said, “We’ll have to pass the bill so you can see what’s in it.” One way to hide a weak stance is to attack your opponent vehemently in anyway possible (whether factual & true or not) and raise enough of a smoke screen to cover your weak position. I don’t expect Buck to have every answer on Obummacare………nobody else does either! But wait ’til the general public sees their tax bill after January 1, when the employer paid portion of healthcare insurance becomes taxable to them………unless they are among the 13% of the workforce who are unionized……..they got a sweetheart deal at the expense of the rest of us. The Democrabs are hoping most people don’t know that.

johnhkennedy

Speaking of FLIP FLOPS, appointed Senator Michael Bennet got lots of flack from Dems for voting for a Senate Health Care bill that did not have the Public Option.

Bennet ran Hundreds of Internet Ads proclaiming himself as the PUBLIC OPTION HERO
but when thousands of Colorado Dems signed and delivered a Petition calling for him to Actually Fight for the Public Option MICHAEL BENNET IGNORED COLORADO DEMOCRATS.

After taking thousands of dollars from hopeful Colorado Democrats and Independents off his HERO ADS we saw his true colors as Bennet refused to put his Gift Seat on the line for us by fighting publicly for the Public Option.

The single biggest problem with the Senate Health care Bill is that it was not a health care bill. It was a massive Bail Out for the Health Insurance Industry financed with a Mandate to voters to buy private insurance. It is just more of the same as insurance companies are already raising premiums.

And there are one or two well known instances where Bennet and Senator Mark Udall huddled together in the well of the Senate after having voted one way on a bill and after being assured that the bill would not pass on a second vote, Changed their votes to Pretend to Colorado Democrats that they were voting the way most Democrats would want. Yes that is FLIP FLOPPING.

However the #1 Issue in this Senate Race is THAT OBAMA STOLE THE PRIMARY FOR BENNET. In response to those that say our Colorado Democratic Primary was not stolen, we offer the following evidence:

Gov. Ritter appointed Bennet even though none of the Democratic rank and file recommendation/emails that Ritter asked for mentioned Bennet even once.

Obama directly raised Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars for Bennet in Denver.

Obama Personally Campaigned for Bennet in Colorado and elsewhere.

Obama caused 460,000 Robo-Calls to be placed to Corado Dems with his endorsement.

Obama Joined a 20,000+ telephone conference call to Colorado Dems with his endorsement.

Obama caused thousands of Telemarketing Calls to be made to Colorado Dems From Washington DC, just prior to the Primary on Aug. 10.

Our corrupt State Democratic Party leaders allowed OFA to officially organize for Bennet and do it out of the State Democratic Party offices.

The DNC and DSCC gave all their Colorado Senate race money to Bennet, thus financially handicapping Romanoff and removing him from prime individual donor lists and preferential media treatment,

A huge Breach Of Trust With Rank & File Colorado Dems.

The Greatest Good that can be achieved from the Colorado Senate race
is Getting Back Our Honest Democratic Senate Primary.

To make that happen Romanoff supporters will need to send a very powerful message to Obama and Corrupt State and national Democratic Party officials that you will not tolerate the Theft of your Primary

which you can do by WRITING-IN Romanoff
Or Just Leaving the Space next to Bennet’s name BLANK

johnhkennedy

Speaking of FLIP FLOPS, appointed Senator Michael Bennet got lots of flack from Dems for voting for a Senate Health Care bill that did not have the Public Option.

Bennet ran Hundreds of Internet Ads proclaiming himself as the PUBLIC OPTION HERO
but when thousands of Colorado Dems signed and delivered a Petition calling for him to Actually Fight for the Public Option MICHAEL BENNET IGNORED COLORADO DEMOCRATS.

After taking thousands of dollars from hopeful Colorado Democrats and Independents off his HERO ADS we saw his true colors as Bennet refused to put his Gift Seat on the line for us by fighting publicly for the Public Option.

The single biggest problem with the Senate Health care Bill is that it was not a health care bill. It was a massive Bail Out for the Health Insurance Industry financed with a Mandate to voters to buy private insurance. It is just more of the same as insurance companies are already raising premiums.

And there are one or two well known instances where Bennet and Senator Mark Udall huddled together in the well of the Senate after having voted one way on a bill and after being assured that the bill would not pass on a second vote, Changed their votes to Pretend to Colorado Democrats that they were voting the way most Democrats would want. Yes that is FLIP FLOPPING.

However the #1 Issue in this Senate Race is THAT OBAMA STOLE THE PRIMARY FOR BENNET. In response to those that say our Colorado Democratic Primary was not stolen, we offer the following evidence:

Gov. Ritter appointed Bennet even though none of the Democratic rank and file recommendation/emails that Ritter asked for mentioned Bennet even once.

Obama directly raised Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars for Bennet in Denver.

Obama Personally Campaigned for Bennet in Colorado and elsewhere.

Obama caused 460,000 Robo-Calls to be placed to Corado Dems with his endorsement.

Obama Joined a 20,000+ telephone conference call to Colorado Dems with his endorsement.

Obama caused thousands of Telemarketing Calls to be made to Colorado Dems From Washington DC, just prior to the Primary on Aug. 10.

Our corrupt State Democratic Party leaders allowed OFA to officially organize for Bennet and do it out of the State Democratic Party offices.

The DNC and DSCC gave all their Colorado Senate race money to Bennet, thus financially handicapping Romanoff and removing him from prime individual donor lists and preferential media treatment,

A huge Breach Of Trust With Rank & File Colorado Dems.

The Greatest Good that can be achieved from the Colorado Senate race
is Getting Back Our Honest Democratic Senate Primary.

To make that happen Romanoff supporters will need to send a very powerful message to Obama and Corrupt State and national Democratic Party officials that you will not tolerate the Theft of your Primary

which you can do by WRITING-IN Romanoff
Or Just Leaving the Space next to Bennet’s name BLANK

johnhkennedy

Speaking of FLIP FLOPS, appointed Senator Michael Bennet got lots of flack from Dems for voting for a Senate Health Care bill that did not have the Public Option.

Bennet ran Hundreds of Internet Ads proclaiming himself as the PUBLIC OPTION HERO
but when thousands of Colorado Dems signed and delivered a Petition calling for him to Actually Fight for the Public Option MICHAEL BENNET IGNORED COLORADO DEMOCRATS.

After taking thousands of dollars from hopeful Colorado Democrats and Independents off his HERO ADS we saw his true colors as Bennet refused to put his Gift Seat on the line for us by fighting publicly for the Public Option.

The single biggest problem with the Senate Health care Bill is that it was not a health care bill. It was a massive Bail Out for the Health Insurance Industry financed with a Mandate to voters to buy private insurance. It is just more of the same as insurance companies are already raising premiums.

And there are one or two well known instances where Bennet and Senator Mark Udall huddled together in the well of the Senate after having voted one way on a bill and after being assured that the bill would not pass on a second vote, Changed their votes to Pretend to Colorado Democrats that they were voting the way most Democrats would want. Yes that is FLIP FLOPPING.

However the #1 Issue in this Senate Race is THAT OBAMA STOLE THE PRIMARY FOR BENNET. In response to those that say our Colorado Democratic Primary was not stolen, we offer the following evidence:

Gov. Ritter appointed Bennet even though none of the Democratic rank and file recommendation/emails that Ritter asked for mentioned Bennet even once.

Obama directly raised Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars for Bennet in Denver.

Obama Personally Campaigned for Bennet in Colorado and elsewhere.

Obama caused 460,000 Robo-Calls to be placed to Corado Dems with his endorsement.

Obama Joined a 20,000+ telephone conference call to Colorado Dems with his endorsement.

Obama caused thousands of Telemarketing Calls to be made to Colorado Dems From Washington DC, just prior to the Primary on Aug. 10.

Our corrupt State Democratic Party leaders allowed OFA to officially organize for Bennet and do it out of the State Democratic Party offices.

The DNC and DSCC gave all their Colorado Senate race money to Bennet, thus financially handicapping Romanoff and removing him from prime individual donor lists and preferential media treatment,

A huge Breach Of Trust With Rank & File Colorado Dems.

The Greatest Good that can be achieved from the Colorado Senate race
is Getting Back Our Honest Democratic Senate Primary.

To make that happen Romanoff supporters will need to send a very powerful message to Obama and Corrupt State and national Democratic Party officials that you will not tolerate the Theft of your Primary

which you can do by WRITING-IN Romanoff
Or Just Leaving the Space next to Bennet’s name BLANK

Davidjohnson813

I am absolutely dumb struck! Exactly where does Michael Bennet stand on Health Care Reform? He will say anything to get elected and then, like Obama, break his promises and change his stance on issues. This man cannot be trusted. All of a sudden Bennet is for tort reform! Where did that come from? It is a matter of record that Bennet’s constituents were screaming at him to vote against this flawed bill and he arrogantly ignored them and blindly followed Harry Reid’s voting instructions. Who needs that kind of representation?

Davidjohnson813

I am absolutely dumb struck! Exactly where does Michael Bennet stand on Health Care Reform? He will say anything to get elected and then, like Obama, break his promises and change his stance on issues. This man cannot be trusted. All of a sudden Bennet is for tort reform! Where did that come from? It is a matter of record that Bennet’s constituents were screaming at him to vote against this flawed bill and he arrogantly ignored them and blindly followed Harry Reid’s voting instructions. Who needs that kind of representation?

Davidjohnson813

I am absolutely dumb struck! Exactly where does Michael Bennet stand on Health Care Reform? He will say anything to get elected and then, like Obama, break his promises and change his stance on issues. This man cannot be trusted. All of a sudden Bennet is for tort reform! Where did that come from? It is a matter of record that Bennet’s constituents were screaming at him to vote against this flawed bill and he arrogantly ignored them and blindly followed Harry Reid’s voting instructions. Who needs that kind of representation?

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.